The vision for an outdoor art gallery on South Main Street is as strong as ever.

Because several paintings had been stolen in recent years from the Arbor Gallery, a group of UMass Dartmouth students painted new portraits of birds, flowers, plants and vegetation Monday for the mural in the lot where the Park Cafe once stood.

The students’ efforts were part of National Volunteer Week, which is being organized locally by SouthCoast Serves, a partnership of local businesses and nonprofits.

“The hope is that people who walk by will see this mural and feel good about the city they live in,” said Katrina Semich, a coordinator for Southcoast Serves.

The outdoor mural is located across the street from the Clipper Restaurant. The Park Cafe used to occupy the space until it burned down several years ago. In 2011, the city collaborated with the Greater Fall River Art Association, Millbilly Art Studios, YouthBuild and local artists to transform the blighted downtown lot into the city’s first outdoor gallery.

However, several paintings, except for one nature scene, were taken from the gallery. Semich said the volunteers were looking to “fill in the gaps” and help to realize the space’s potential.

Lynne LaBerge, an artist who designed the mural, said the idea was to create an outdoor art gallery that could draw in the community.

“It’s exciting to see all these young people out here volunteering,” LaBerge said.

Bethany Racicot, 22, a UMass Dartmouth senior and campus chapter president of Habitat for Humanity, said she convinced her roommates to join her in painting the mural.

Earlier on Monday, Racicot and the other volunteers helped weed and prepare the gardens for planting at the First Congregational Church of Fall River.